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“We knew it would, didn’t we, Leni?” Dan winked at the child who was starting to bounce with the effort of containing her excitement. She kept glancing back at the wrapped brown lump in the cart.

“I made you a gift, too. But be very careful. It’s super fragile!” Leni cautioned.

Without removing the gift from the wagon, Dan peeled back the layers of brown paper. Inside was a small glass dome on a wooden base. Inside the dome was a single dandelion seed pod. Every seed on the perfectly preserved fluffy orb was intact, begging to be wished upon.

Leni lifted it up and held it out to him.

“I made it for you!” she enthused. “It’s for your tavern. It’s to remind you that wishes can come true!”

Dan took the gift from her and studied it. Every seed was still attached, the whole fragile globe frozen mid-breath, the moment just before a wish gets made and everything changes.

He stood and carried it to the mantel and set it down next to the sphinx. Then he stepped back. The two items looked perfect on the mantel together.

“This is an incredible gift, Leni,” he said. “I already feel like so many of my wishes have come true.”

Leni nodded solemnly. She had clearly been expecting this response.

Sara looked at the mantel, then at Dan.

“Big night,” she said.

“Big night,” he agreed.

“I’d best leave you to it then,” she said. “But I’m right next door if you need anything. And we’ll be here later!”

“I’ll save you a seat,” Dan promised. He returned to the busy work of counting coasters and sorting cocktail straws by color. With less than eight hours left till the opening, he was starting to run out of things to do.

At ten o’clock there was a loud, officious knock on the front door.

Dan almost expected to find Fidelito the squirrel on the other side, but instead he saw three women in leather biker jackets. He recognized them. They were the same three curious women he’s snapped a picture for at his book signing, months ago in Portland, Oregon. He suddenly felt a little confused to see them here.

“We’re not open yet, but you’re welcome to come back after six p.m.”

“That’s okay, we’re not here for a drink, we’re here on official business.” The tall dark one spoke for the trio.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” Dan scratched his head, trying to remember if he’d met them in any other context beside the book signing.

“Bureau of Magical Venue Compliance,” the tall one said, producing nothing in the way of documentation. “I’m Asha, and these are my colleagues Nell and Zara. We’re with Wards and Permits. Routine visit.”

“We’re just doing a quick spot check on Samhain events that will be open to Ordinaries,” Nell added. She was studying the ceiling.

Dan nodded. He’d been expecting as much and he was prepared. He went behind the bar and found his folder full of paperwork. He laid the permits out on the bar. It was all in order: the charm permissions, the ward certificates, the approved entry point in Charles Village through The Weighted Anchor, the sign-off from Primrose Court’s magical council of elders. He set the receipts beside them.

Zara was not looking at the paperwork. She was wandering around the room, studying the posters. She picked up a coaster and sniffed it.

Asha studied the permits. She drummed her fingers as she read, and when she was done, she pushed them back across the bar.

Nell, meanwhile, had completed her assessment of the ceiling and moved on to the walls, windows and doors. She tapped the stonework in two places, apparently satisfied.

“Good bones,” she said.

“The stonework is all original,” Dan said.

“We know,” Asha said. She looked up at the mantel. A slight smile moved across her face before she moved on.

“Nice new wiring,” Nell beamed, flicking a light switch on and off, and on and off again.

“Looks like everything’s in order,” Zara said cheerfully. She patted one of the house plants like it was a pet. “We’ll be back later tonight to play!”